Because our last morning on land in Brazil and events didn't line up with expectations, the title of this journey has been I've edited the name of our trip by deleting Piranha and adding Sloth.

We didn't see piranhas in the wild. No anacondas, monkeys, macaws and other jungle creatures either. Although we did see pink river dolphins, I couldn't nab a good photo or video. So we had to settle for a soaking wet and adorable sloth.

Our adventure was on a small double-decker boat that I had arranged for. We recruited eight other Journey passengers on a four-hour sail to Lake Maica, just off the Amazon near Santarem. Because our time was limited, we couldn't fish for piranha and dozens of other species below us. We saw only vultures and one hawk on the shore.

We saw a herd cows and were told that twice a year (the beginning and end of the rainy season) the cattle had to be herded across the lake to avoid flooding. This was accomplished by sacrificing the oldest in the herd. The poor cow would be immediately engulfed by thousands of piranhas. While the fish were feasting, the other cattle could be moved safely across the shallow water.

We saw a dilapidated house with two modern solar discs next to it. And until a sloth was spotted high in a tree near the river edge, the morning's highlight was a heavy thunderstorm in the middle of the rainforest. Surprise, surprise. But I was delighted that I wasn't on a speed boat tour from the Journey and avoided getting drenched.

Our intrepid captain steered the boat back to the tree with the sloth bringing the bow to rest against shrubs and close to the greenish gray creature few of us had ever seen before. Then the captain climbed to the top of his vessel, pulled on the tree limb to which the sloth was grasping and pulled it over until he could grab the sloth and lower it to the deck. (Please enjoy the videos and photos I've posted on the events.)

All aboard were thrilled to have this experience. And after five minutes of picture-taking and a little cuddling, the captain returned Smiley the Sloth to a different tree and we sailed away. Since I'm forever the one to find misery during a pleasurable experience, I felt tiny pain on my left wrist just after slightly touching Smiley (see picture). I saw a fire ant and quickly smacked it off my wrist, but it was too late. I have already lost two battles with fire ants this decade. Now, 24 hours later, the wrist has a fiery itch and inflammation. Do not fret. The ship provided Prednisone and antihistamine and recovery is another 48 hours away.

Our encounter made me curious about sloths. So I consulted the world's newest travel companion, ChatGPT, and here is what it advised me to share with you about Smiley and her (I believe) mates. Sloths are not monkeys or bears like many think but belong with the zoological family with anteaters and armadillos.

1. Sloths Can Turn Their Heads Almost 270 Degrees

Three-toed sloths have extra neck vertebrae, allowing them to rotate their heads almost 270 degrees like an owl. This helps them spot predators without moving their slow bodies.

2. They Can Fall 100 Feet and Survive

Sloths fall from trees quite often—sometimes from as high as 100 feet! But thanks to their strong grip and flexible bodies, they usually survive without injuries.

3. They Poop Only Once a Week—And It’s Dangerous!

Sloths descend to the ground just once a week to poop, losing about ⅓ of their body weight each time! This is when they are most vulnerable to predators like jaguars, large snakes and eagles. Scientists aren’t exactly sure why they risk it, but one theory is that it helps fertilize the trees they live in.

4. Sloths Can Hold Their Breath Longer Than Dolphins

A sloth can hold its breath for up to 40 minutes by slowing its heart rate. In comparison, dolphins usually hold their breath for 10–15 minutes.

5. Their Fur Hosts a Tiny Ecosystem

Sloth fur is home to algae, fungi, beetles, moths, and other insects (LIKE FIRE ANTS!!!) —some of which exist nowhere else on Earth! The greenish algae help camouflage them in the trees. They rarely fight but can deliver a strong bite and sharp claw swipe if needed.

6. Sloths Are Surprisingly Good Swimmers

Despite their slow movements on land, sloths love water and can swim three times faster than they move on land (0.15 mph). They use their long arms to dog-paddle and can float effortlessly.

7. They Have the Slowest Metabolism of Any Mammal

Sloths digest food so slowly that they may take up to a month to process a single meal.

Their slow metabolism means they don’t need much food and can survive on just a few leaves a day. They are eating leaves, fruits, and flowers. They sleep 15-20 hours a day.

8. They Smile All the Time—But Not Because They’re Happy

Sloths always look like they’re smiling, but that’s just how their face is shaped!

They don’t actually express emotions like many other mammals do. (This is a lie! We all saw Smiley smile in his closeup.)

9. They Were Once the Size of Elephants

Millions of years ago, giant ground sloths (Megatherium) roamed the Earth, growing up to 20 feet long and weighing over 4 tons! Unlike today’s tree-dwelling sloths, they walked on the ground and were as big as modern elephants.

10. Some Sloths Can Live Up to 40 Years

In the wild, sloths usually live 10–20 years, but in captivity, some have reached 40+ years! They are found only in South and Central America.